St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-06-26
HIS HEAD BOTTLED.
Ihe CHASTITY Face of Garfield's
Murderer on Exhibition.
Prof e. M. Worth VIII Exhibit 1t
!. in New York.


lie head of Charles j. Guiteau, the
assassin of President Garfield, which
was always supposed to have been
buried under the floor of his prison in
Washington, has come into the pos
session OF well known New Yorker,
who intends to place it ON exhibition.
Ihis is the claim made by Prof. E. M.
Worth, of New York, nephew of Gen.
Worth, and his statement is corrobo-
rated by other reputable citizens. Tue
manner IN which it came into his pos
session is remarkable, and it is alleged,
Will probably prove revelation to the
government officials at Washington.
Before Guiteau,S execution bids were
made for the possession of his body by
several persons in different parts of the
country. These bids intensely gratified
Gultean's vanity at first, but afterwards
he came to the conclusion that it would
be an lndignity, and his dread of being
eXHiDlted became very great. He made
every provision, as he thought, to pre-
vent what he called having his body
''haWked around" after death. He also
had great horror of his body
being disSected, and took every
measure that he could think of to
stop such a proceeding. When at last
he realized that he must be
executed he placed the disposition of
his remains i'll the hands of Rev. DIR.
HICKS, as he feared to trust even his
own relatives. DIR. Hicks did all that
ne possibly could, but in spite of his eff
forts the body was dissected, and
Gulteau'S bones are now upon exhibi-
ton in the army medical museum at
Washington, while his head, it is as
serted, is in possession of Prof. Worth.
Dr.. Hicks evidently thought that Quit
eau.s body was safe when he saw the
coffin lowered into the grave in the Jail,
but there is reason to doubt whether
Glllteaus body was ever placed in the
coffin. AS soon as the body was lowered
from the Scaff0ld the trouble began. The
government desired to have an examin-
alton made of the murderer's brain in
order to
SATISFY THE PUBLIC AS TO HIS INsAN-
ITY.
DIR. Hicks objected, but was at last in
dueed to sign an agreement by District
Attorney Corkhill giving authority to a
committee OF physicians to perform an
autopsy. Before Guiteau's body was
cold Drs. Lamb, u. L. Sewers and Harti-
gan were busy dissecting the corpse.
After the autopsy it was alleged, and so
published at the time, that the remains
were placed in coffin which was at
once closed and not opened again. Mrs.
Scoyille, the sister of Guiteau. en-
deavored to obtain last look at the body
OF her brother, but the warden of the
jail refused in spite of her
frantic appeals. Gen. Croker told
the Rev. DR.. Hicks that he
would place the body where it
would be beyond the reach of vengence
or speculation. A spot was selected i'm
the northeast corner of the Jail. ANY
one confined in sGuiteau's' cell could
easily look down upon the location.
'Fhe place of execution was upon the
opposite side of the rotunda. The brick
flooring was taken up and grave over
seven feet deep was dug. Six prisoners
carried the coffin from the chapel to
this grave, where it was lowered and
buried. No religious service was per
formed, but Rev. DR.. Hicks stood and
saw the body, as he supposed, safely
entOmbed. 'f'f
Prof. Worth says that he first heard
of the existence of Guiteau's head two
years ago. He received letter signed
with fictitious name informing him of
the fact and offering to disclose it's lOca-
ton. 1t took him some time to gain the
confidence of the writer and learn where
the head was concealed. In the mean
time he learned that the asSassin's skel-
eton was on exhibition in the Army
Medical museum at Washington. 1t was
therefore certain that the body of Gui-
teau had never been buried, or, if it
was, had been resurrected. The profess
s0r finally found the head floating in al
n q orIo ion
cellar of one Of the finest residences in
Washington. 1t was in a perfect
state except that the jar was SO
small that the nose was slightly
f1attened. The circular jar also
the head and distorted the
features. An effort was therefore made
to have square jar made large enough
to hold the head. Moulds were made
and the leading glass manufacturers at
tempted to make the jar, but without
success. In every case the jars broke
as they cooled. AT last sectional vase
was made by professor Worth himself
and in this the head of the assassin is
is suspended. The glass case rests up
0n,a bronze pedestal so that the top of
the head is just the same height as
when Guiteau stood upright.
Prof. Worth says: ain order to iden-
tify the head obtained the report of the
examination made on the day
of the execution. l found that the in
cision made to remove the brain corre-
spOnded exactly. 1t was clever opera
ton, the stitches made in replacing the
different parts being as neat as if done
by skilful embrOiderer. i found the
small white scar upon the scalp
between the top of the left
ear and the median lines of the
head. There was the yellowish
furrow showing the pressure of
the rope. extending three-quarters
aroud the neck. 1t showed that the
knot had slipped from the left ear
around to the back of the neck. His
short hair and mustache were as perfect
as in life. Take the photographs made
before and after the execution, place
them by the side of this head, and there
is no question of its being genuine
Prof. Worth says that there is nothing
repulsive in the exhibition. Guiteau's
face bears 10 marks of suffering and
simply looks as though he were asleep.
The head will probably be exhibited
soon either in New York city or at COney